His Lordship Alexander Kane

Chapter 0023 At Chesire Mansion.

“Sir Chesire!” a voice filled with immense joy echoed from outside. Ben, the majordomo who had been by Donovan’s side for over 40 years, hurriedly entered the living room. His face beamed with unrestrained delight as he handed his phone to Donovan, his voice trembling with excitement.

“Look, Sir Chesire-you simply must! The Severn Group’s development project has expanded again, and they’re investing a total of 4.5 billion dollars! That's the Chesire family’s contract, and we can make at least 1.5 billion dollars! We finally have hope to be among the top-tier families in Ol’ Mare!”

What?!

The shocked Donovan slowly rose from the sofa. He stared intently at Ben’s phone and read the Ol’ Mare Business Report. His breathing quickened, and his face flushed with excitement.

This was a momentous occasion, a grand celebration!

Indeed, he was angry at how Alexander shocked him with that casket at his 70th birthday celebration three days ago. However, the news regarding the

collaboration with the Severn Group acted like a powerful shot of adrenaline, and it excited him. Donovan could almost hear his heart pounding.

40 years. It had taken Donovan four long decades to turn the Chesire family from an unknown small enterprise into an Ol’ Mare second-tier family with assets totaling around one billion dollars.

With this contract, the status of the Chesire family could skyrocket. Joining the ranks of Ol’ Mare’s top-tier families would no longer be a mere dream!

“T-The contract...” Donovan stuttered. Then, he suddenly turned to Ben with a frown and said, “Something’s not right. How could | not know about such a major development? Who's in charge of this project? Isn’t this Zoe’s department? Why didn’t she inform me? What is happening?”

Ben was taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure and cautiously suggested, “Perhaps Miss Zoe wanted to surprise you? She might've signed the contract first and planned to inform you afterward. Should | call her and ask for clarification?”

4/4 +15 BONOS

“No!” Donovan decisively shook his head.

He would never discuss such a significant matter over the phone as this needed a face-to-face conversation to understand fully. Then, Donovan ordered Ben, “Tell Zoe to come here immediately. She has half an hour, and I'll be waiting here!”

Ben did not waste any time and immediately called Zoe. It was apparent to him that Donovan was furious.

Half an hour later.

Zoe’s face was ashen as she walked into the living room, timidly saying, ” Grandpa... I’m sorry... messed things up.”

Donovan had anticipated this and stood up from the sofa, seething with rage.

His eldest son, Neil, could not have children of his own despite numerous medical consultations. Desperate to continue the family line, they adopted a boy from a distant branch of the Chesire family, making him their adopted son. Harry, the second son, was in charge of the family’s business in the capital. He had lived a rather extravagant life in his youth and had only recently married. The youngest son, Patrick, had a leg disability, and he only had one daughter from his marriage.

Zoe, formerly known as Zoe Frankell, was nothing more than an extended relative of the Chesire family. Five years ago, she changed her surname to Chesire due to a lack of direct heirs in the family. She thus became the family’s heiress.

It was under her encouragement that Patrick and his family were cast aside, and the infamous switcheroo incident during the wedding occurred because of her.

Donovan regarded Zoe even more dearly than his own granddaughter, Amber, and yet...

Zoe messed up the golden opportunity for the Chesire family to rise to prominence, to become a top-tier family, and to collaborate with Severn Group!Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Damn it! You're so useless!” Donovan yelled angrily, his whole body trembling. “Just what the hell happened? Why did you mess this up? Do you know what a 4.5 billion dollar investment and a 1.5 billion dollar profit mean? Speak, or I'll kill you!”

Zoe was as pale as a sheet, paralyzed by fear. She fell to her knees with a thud, her eyes brimming with tears. Tugging at her clothing, she revealed the bruises from the Severn family bodyguards who shoved her out, sobbing.

“Grandpa, when | went to sign the contract at Severn Group, they wouldn't let me in. They even kicked me out of the building, and my high heels got broken. I’m still in pain! Grandpa, | really don’t know what happened. | swear! |—”

“Don't you dare lie to me!” Donovan snatched an ashtray from the coffee table and threw it down beside Zoe with a loud crash, fuming in rage.

There was hardly anything he could not find out in the Chesire Group if he cared to investigate. He knew Patrick and Susanne handled the negotiations for the collaboration with Severn Group, and it took them half a year of hard work.

The Severn Group, led by the chairman Bruno and managed by George, was not to be underestimated. Did Zoe really think she could get away with such behavior under their watchful eyes?

Where was her sincerity? What were her true intentions?

In Ol’ Mare, the Severn family saw the Chesire family as beneath them!

“How dare you lie to me!” Donovan shouted, getting angrier the more he thought about this. “George personally asked for Patrick and Susanne to sign the contract. 1.5 billion dollars in profit! The entire Chesire family isn’t worth that much! What are you kneeling there for? Go and have them sign the contract for me! You don’t expect me to go and beg them personally, do you?”

Zoe remained on her knees and appeared terrified, swaying slightly. Even though she seemed to be deeply distressed, a malicious glint flickered in her eyes.

‘Patrick, Susanne...’ Zoe grumbled inwardly. ‘Once that contract is signed, you'll be nothing. I'll make sure to kick you both to the curb. No share of the contract, no signing bonus-you won't see a dime! Don’t even dream about returning to the Chesire family!’

Zoe stood up from the floor, feigning tears as if she were genuinely heartbroken before saying, “I-I’ll meet them right away, Grandpa, but what do | do if they refuse? They resent me, Grandpa, and you know it...”

Slap!

Donovan slapped Zoe forcefully, glaring at her. “Are you bargaining with me? Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself? Go now, and beg him if you have to! | can throw their entire family out the door, and | can kick you out too. | can strip you of everything you have or even kill you now, and no one will dare utter a word. Not even Herbert can save you!”

With this torrent of furious reproaches, Donovan crushed Zoe’s last glimmer of hope. 3/4 +15 BONOS

“I'm going! I’m going right now!” Zoe was utterly terrified, not daring to waste a single second. She quickly wiped away her tears and hurriedly left the Chesire family living room, heading straight for Belmont Hills to beg Patrick and Susanne to step in and sign the contract with Severn Group.